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Maurice Blackburn continues growth in board diversity
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers has appointed a new board director, who will be the first of Asian background, to the firm’s board, in the firm’s continued efforts to ensure greater diversity among its board and senior leadership.
Tony Zhang
Maurice Blackburn has appointed employment law principal Giri Sivaraman as the first director of Asian background to the firm’s board.
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Maurice Blackburn CEO Jacob Varghese said Mr Sivaraman’s appointment further augmented the firm’s commitment to board diversity, with the firm also delivering 50 per cent gender diversity in its board appointments since 2018.
“In 2018, we moved to ensure we had more than 50 per cent female representation on our board, in what was believed may have been an Australian first for a national law firm,” Mr Varghese said.
“We’re very pleased to continue these efforts in now also welcoming Giri Sivaraman to our board, our first director of Asian background.
“Giri brings more than 15 years’ legal and leadership experience to this role, including having headed the pro bono scheme for underpaid 7-Eleven workers that was run by Maurice Blackburn.
“In addition to his legal work, Giri also serves as the deputy chair for Multicultural Australia and is a member of the Queensland Multicultural Advisory Council to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs.
“Giri will bring a significant depth of experience and insight to our board, and we look forward to working with him in this new role as a director.”
Mr Sivaraman, who joined the firm back in 2002, is the current head of the firm’s Queensland employment law department based in Brisbane.
Notable cases include heading the pro bono scheme for underpaid 7-Eleven workers run by Maurice Blackburn and bringing one of the first successful adverse action cases under the new Fair Work Act representing an aircraft engineer who had his work rights breached.
Mr Sivaraman welcomed the opportunity to join the firm’s board.
“I am grateful to be able to play a greater role in the leadership and direction of Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and proud to be the first board member of Asian background,” Mr Sivaraman said.
“In particular, I am looking forward to being able to continue the firm’s work in striving for greater diversity across all areas of our business for our clients and staff.”
Mr Sivaraman is also a member of Maurice Blackburn’s Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee and is the deputy chair of the Queensland Law Society Employment and Industrial Law Subcommittee.
Maurice Blackburn’s board is chaired by former Victorian premier Steve Bracks and includes firm principals Michelle James, Kim Shaw, Rebecca Gilsenan and Martin Hyde as well as non-executive directors Joan Fitzpatrick and Peter Day.
